This is one of my favourite videos I've ever done. Huge thanks to the Martin team, which guitar stands out to you???? For a limited time get The Complete Samurai Guitar Theory Experience on sale, use code "BACKTOSCHOOL23" at checkout over at www.samuraiguitartheory.com/
the Elliott Smith guitar, i made another comment that talks about his guitar playing and some albums of his that are notable guitar wise, check him out!
@@henryhopton2944 I honestly feel like he’s a lost cause for being an Elliott Smith fan considering he thought that Elliott Smith was a member of The Smiths…who he also thought was The Cure (because Robert Smith was their lead singer.) That weird three-way misunderstanding just shows such an insane disconnect that he has with so much of influential music history that I can’t help but feel differently about the guy. I mean it’s one thing to not know these things, but to laughingly admit them to your subscribers like it’s no big deal, yeah I can’t really fathom that. It’s like he doesn’t think that the artists he’s talking about and whose instruments he’s playing really matter in the long run. I mean, at least do your research and don’t sound like an uneducated musician, lol.
Who are you? I have seen you on comments all over UA-cam, not even just guitar things, for years, no joke, years. I tried to message you a long while ago but you didn’t reply, who are you?
That Joan Baez guitar immediately lept out at me too, it sounds three times its size with more mid to low fullness than makes sense intuitively. Gorgeous sounding guitar.
I think it's also the accomplished peoples choice in instrument then setup and sometimes alterations that help make it feel unique accounting for the "magic".
My dad actually works at Martin and has helped design some guitars. He's played several of the same guitars in this video and it was so cool to see your take on everything! Can't wait to show him this video!
It’s almost not surprising, in fact it makes sense. No doubt all tone chasers had to work with back then was the build quality itself, so it stands to reason they’d really have it honed in back then, not to mention it’s had over 100 years to break in.
I saw a tour of the factory and the guy showing the UA-camr around said there's a whole chicken egg thing with Martin. Since the most available guitars at the dawn of recorded music was Martin, does Martin actually make the best sounding guitars, or is our perceived best sounding guitar based on the sound of a Martin. We may never know for sure.
The magic is that each of these artists chose THAT guitar to express themselves with. Feeling how it plays, listening to its tone, you can understand something about them and their process. And that's magic.
I'm happy for you Samurai. The fact that you're allowed to play a $1m guitar, made by one of the world's greatest brands, shows how respected and valued you are in the guitar community.
Dude I was literally there at the Martin Factory on August 17th and was looking at that Diamond Star guitar in the glass case! So cool you got to play it! That 1947 D-18 Hank Williams is magnificent
I grew up a 5-minute drive from this museum and the factory. As a young kid I never appreciated how amazing that was as a learning guitarist until I hit my early 20s - now that I'm 42 I am depressed I moved half way across the country lol.
Man Sammy G. , I'd have been shaking and my palms would have been sweating too much I think. As far as "Magic" my older brother insisted I play with my EVH pick from the 5150 Tour and I didn't have any "mojo" rub off on me but I managed to rub the signature off!! (I can see it at an angle). Beautiful video! That museum is mind-blowing!
It’s disrespectful to The Cure, The Smiths, and Elliott Smith…like how do you have a music channel that allows you to have such an honor of getting to play these historical Martin guitars with *that amount* of ignorance towards the last 40 years of music? It all just kinda bums me out :(
If you dive in deep you’ll find it was Kurt’s girlfriends guitar that he only sometimes played at her house. Even if you look at the famous picture of him playing it you can see its strung up for a right handed person. But It did inspired him to buy the Martin he used for unplugged. He definitely played it tho, and that’s good enough for me.
9:57 Honesty is not always the best policy: especially when you’re lucky enough to have been invited to play these sacred instruments at the temple in which they were built. Philistine at the hedgerow: now that is bitter irony.
Great video> I finally visited the Martin factory about this time last year. My sister lives a few minutes from there. The museum was awesome. My sis is not into guitars but she loved the garb on display. She makes her living buying and selling historic clothing like Nudie suits.
It's almost like you were in a time machine going back to very special places in the history of guitars and music. That pickup by Leo Fender was something else. Would've been cool to hear it (if it still works). Had to chuckle a bit about "Waylon's sweat". I have a guitar strap that belonged to John Abercrombie... and it's discoloured with "John's sweat" ...and DNA maybe? :0). It was a gift from a friend who bought one of Abercrombie's guitars at an auction. If I could only have the guitar!!! lol
Ya know what's interesting about this. Its not that there is anything magical about these instruments. Its that there is a certain quality to certain instruments. We praise what the artist that owned them accomplished and that in and of itself is important. However there is another factor to all of this not explained. Its the quality of the craftsmanship of these instruments that to me , is the important part. You pick them up and you strum them and some of them are just dull , lack luster but still somewhat clear. Then there was two that you picked up and when you strum them , it was like a acoustic guitar in a auditorium , amplified up however , it was just natural. THATS the important part. Who in the world put their hands on those as they were made , those are the people I'm interested in. What woods did they use , what techniques , are all of the guitars they made , actually that resonant. Thats what we need to see. That to me is what makes one instrument more valuable than another , the quality of the craftsmanship.
I found it cool you actually got to try Leo’s Martin, I remember taking a picture of that one and the plack separately so I could remember where Leo got his start on creating some of the best electrics ever made!
I hope you know you just lived out a dream of mine and you’re insanely lucky. I will never even be able to see these guitars in person let alone touch or play them. Amazing.
I totally understand that his instinct is to play something in the vein of the artist that owned each guitar. I bought a Gretsch Bo Diddley model back in 2011 and it took a long time before I felt right playing anything other than Bo Diddley songs on it. And this wasn't a guitar he iwned or even played! For that matter it isn't even the high end model that is a replica of his original rectangular guitar. Yet, it's like it wasn't my guitar ir that I needed permission to play non Bo Diddley stuff.
The one that stands out for me...is the one that stood out for you. All you did was strum a simple G chord...”OH!” was your reaction. The legends that have written beautiful music is one thing...but... I have played lots of guitars in my 61 years. And ones that were very expensive well known brands were hard to play...and didn’t sound very good. But they were pretty to look at. I am of the opinion that every instrument has its own “voice”...some sing, and some don’t. Take, for example, any Stradivarius. They all sing...beautifully. You were lucky enough to play one that doesn’t look like much...but... it sings beautifully...
The sound of the D45 comes across through the camera via your expression and the /plays/ "oh man!" /plays some more/ "oh man!" It’s so fun to watch someone enthusiastic about a thing witness an excellent example of that thing!
Graduated college in May and got my first really high paying jobs week ago and I was so excited because one of the first things I’m buying are two Martin Guitars 😅. I get my first check next week super excited!!
You were so lit up playing some of these guitars...you couldn't restrain your enthusiasm, which was great to see! Of the guitars you played, the most surprising and something I would not have expected is just how amazing the guitar owned by Joan Baez sounded....
12:08 now that this guitar has not only been played by Kurt Cobain and Elliott Smith, but also by Samurai Jenny, I guess it value will soon reach eight figures.
Man the most expensive guitar that I have ever played was a $3500 Martin acoustic that is owned by a family member and man that Guitar sounded beautiful. The craziest thing about the Martin D-18 that Kurt would get in 1993 a 1959 Martin D-18e which was the electric version of that guitar that he would play at the Nirvana Unplugged concert.
That Waylon Jennings' D-28 sounded really amazing, as well as the one that Joan Baez used to play. That D-28 was most definitely my favourite in this video.
I mean I couldn’t agree more and imo the diamond studded thing was just ridiculous since there is so much beauty in the costly tone woods and back n side woods.
I personally have never really cared about provenance who played or it owned it but I do appreciate seeing some of these early pieces as well as some of the weird transitions stages that the guitars have gone through my favorite being that Fender modified martin
It was pretty uncool for me to hear him say that he thought Elliott Smith was a member of The Smiths, who he actually thought was The Cure, but that’s just me :)
I have a question for you Samurai Guitarist… Having played these beautiful and historic guitars, which of these brought the most songs out of you? If any of them did.
One of the earliest pioneers was a Gibson engineer named Lloyd Loar. In 1924 he developed an electric pickup for the viola and other stringed instruments. geez, guys, www anyone?
This museum and factory isn’t too far from my house and so I have been a few times and thought it would be cool to play some of the things in there and now at least I get to hear the things in there
Dunno about diamonds, but even my new D35 is pure gold in sound! No other company is making regular production stringed instruments that are as good as the most legendary antique ones.
check out elliott smith's music if u get the chance! probably one of the most underrated guitar players ever, wrote melodies and acoustic parts better than almost anyone i can think of! would recommend checking out his self titled album, as well as XO!
This review is so much better than the one I saw with that guy who just went there and thrashed everything with a plectrum and gave you anxiety throw the phone for those guitars. Careless
That seals it for me. There’s not a single Martin guitar whose sound I like. They all have this hollow boxy resonance ringing around 2-300hz that I just can’t get past.
The Baroque is a highly ornate and elaborate style of architecture, art and design that flourished in Europe in the 17th and first half of the 18th century.
This is one of my favourite videos I've ever done. Huge thanks to the Martin team, which guitar stands out to you???? For a limited time get The Complete Samurai Guitar Theory Experience on sale, use code "BACKTOSCHOOL23" at checkout over at www.samuraiguitartheory.com/
To be clear the video is still appreciated and you seem like a genuinely cool dude, was just a bit disappointing
Joan Baez screamed out to me from the first note. The look you gave when you strummed it was pretty much the same look I gave
the Elliott Smith guitar, i made another comment that talks about his guitar playing and some albums of his that are notable guitar wise, check him out!
@@henryhopton2944 I honestly feel like he’s a lost cause for being an Elliott Smith fan considering he thought that Elliott Smith was a member of The Smiths…who he also thought was The Cure (because Robert Smith was their lead singer.)
That weird three-way misunderstanding just shows such an insane disconnect that he has with so much of influential music history that I can’t help but feel differently about the guy.
I mean it’s one thing to not know these things, but to laughingly admit them to your subscribers like it’s no big deal, yeah I can’t really fathom that. It’s like he doesn’t think that the artists he’s talking about and whose instruments he’s playing really matter in the long run.
I mean, at least do your research and don’t sound like an uneducated musician, lol.
From this? John Baez's old Legend. I online seen copies of my favorit Donovan's blue Moon guitar.
Every guitar has a history and charm to it for sure. That diamond guitar is surreal, it's almost impossible to imagine it actually existing.
Who are you?
I have seen you on comments all over UA-cam, not even just guitar things, for years, no joke, years. I tried to message you a long while ago but you didn’t reply, who are you?
@@philipschlaepfer9866 Well I am a musician, among other things I enjoy. I really enjoy the content put forth by many in the guitar community.
this guy.
@@philipschlaepfer9866 I was thinking the same about you😳
@@philipschlaepfer9866 some cringe guy that spends his whole life on youtube trying to farm likes
That Joan Baez guitar immediately lept out at me too, it sounds three times its size with more mid to low fullness than makes sense intuitively. Gorgeous sounding guitar.
I'm surprised the guitar itself doesn't automatically play "Diamonds and Rust"
I think it's also the accomplished peoples choice in instrument then setup and sometimes alterations that help make it feel unique accounting for the "magic".
My dad actually works at Martin and has helped design some guitars. He's played several of the same guitars in this video and it was so cool to see your take on everything! Can't wait to show him this video!
So cool
The fact that a guitar from 1880 can sound that good is bonkers.
It’s almost not surprising, in fact it makes sense. No doubt all tone chasers had to work with back then was the build quality itself, so it stands to reason they’d really have it honed in back then, not to mention it’s had over 100 years to break in.
Not really. All the best sounding ones are older imo
I saw a tour of the factory and the guy showing the UA-camr around said there's a whole chicken egg thing with Martin. Since the most available guitars at the dawn of recorded music was Martin, does Martin actually make the best sounding guitars, or is our perceived best sounding guitar based on the sound of a Martin. We may never know for sure.
We inherited the last real world
The older the wood and the drier it gets it resonates more sound and creates a mighty crispy tone.
Too cool! Thank you for sharing!
The magic is that each of these artists chose THAT guitar to express themselves with. Feeling how it plays, listening to its tone, you can understand something about them and their process. And that's magic.
When I visit the Martin factory museum, I like to play million dollar guitars with my Jellyfish Pick.
I can't believe he didnt like this comment
I'm happy for you Samurai. The fact that you're allowed to play a $1m guitar, made by one of the world's greatest brands, shows how respected and valued you are in the guitar community.
Dude I was literally there at the Martin Factory on August 17th and was looking
at that Diamond Star guitar in the glass case! So cool you got to play it!
That 1947 D-18 Hank Williams is magnificent
Great piece and you did those guitars justice. Loved how you played every one of them. Fun mixed with homage and care ✌️😌🎸
That 1942 came over beautifully. Even on a phone I could hear the quality.
I grew up a 5-minute drive from this museum and the factory. As a young kid I never appreciated how amazing that was as a learning guitarist until I hit my early 20s - now that I'm 42 I am depressed I moved half way across the country lol.
Man Sammy G. , I'd have been shaking and my palms would have been sweating too much I think. As far as "Magic" my older brother insisted I play with my EVH pick from the 5150 Tour and I didn't have any "mojo" rub off on me but I managed to rub the signature off!! (I can see it at an angle). Beautiful video! That museum is mind-blowing!
That 1880 that Joan played is the perfect guitar. All of the sound of a full body with the reduced size and weight like a travelling guitar.
That 1880 Joan Baez guitar sounded magical even through your camera mic.
Great video! So cool to see and learn about these legendary guitars!
This is the most tragic disrespect towards the Cure lol 2:09
Imagine thinking Elliott Smith is not at least as goated as The Cure
It’s disrespectful to The Cure, The Smiths, and Elliott Smith…like how do you have a music channel that allows you to have such an honor of getting to play these historical Martin guitars with *that amount* of ignorance towards the last 40 years of music?
It all just kinda bums me out :(
If I ever got to play Kurt Cobain's guitar I think I'd genuinely die of shock 😅
If you dive in deep you’ll find it was Kurt’s girlfriends guitar that he only sometimes played at her house. Even if you look at the famous picture of him playing it you can see its strung up for a right handed person. But It did inspired him to buy the Martin he used for unplugged. He definitely played it tho, and that’s good enough for me.
Holy Fuque!! what a selection you got to play. I bet it is your fave vid to make, lol. I want a 1880s Martin now! That Baez sounded insanely sweet!!
So cool man. I've never seen most of these guitars before. Crazy amount of history and impact on music
Elliott smith was not in the Cure, just want to reiterate that.
Thats eliott smith of heatmiser!
Nor were The Cure the same as The Smiths, lol.
The 2022 Martin D2.5 Millionth look like if Tommy Thares Signature Epiphone was acoustic. I need it!
One of my old friends had a 1963 Martin D-45. Truly the best sounding guitar in history.
9:57 Honesty is not always the best policy: especially when you’re lucky enough to have been invited to play these sacred instruments at the temple in which they were built. Philistine at the hedgerow: now that is bitter irony.
Dude 😂 loved the fact you and Mike Cole both did camos. In videos and u in his video! Lol love both channels ! Love Acoustic guitars ...
That 0-40 at the end was the best one of the bunch. Just sounded sweet.
GREAT episode!!!!!
Wow I had no idea such a cool museum was near me
Magical place filled with amazing instruments and volumes of history !!!
Great video> I finally visited the Martin factory about this time last year. My sister lives a few minutes from there. The museum was awesome. My sis is not into guitars but she loved the garb on display. She makes her living buying and selling historic clothing like Nudie suits.
It's almost like you were in a time machine going back to very special places in the history of guitars and music. That pickup by Leo Fender was something else. Would've been cool to hear it (if it still works). Had to chuckle a bit about "Waylon's sweat". I have a guitar strap that belonged to John Abercrombie... and it's discoloured with "John's sweat" ...and DNA maybe? :0). It was a gift from a friend who bought one of Abercrombie's guitars at an auction. If I could only have the guitar!!! lol
Ya know what's interesting about this. Its not that there is anything magical about these instruments. Its that there is a certain quality to certain instruments. We praise what the artist that owned them accomplished and that in and of itself is important. However there is another factor to all of this not explained. Its the quality of the craftsmanship of these instruments that to me , is the important part. You pick them up and you strum them and some of them are just dull , lack luster but still somewhat clear. Then there was two that you picked up and when you strum them , it was like a acoustic guitar in a auditorium , amplified up however , it was just natural. THATS the important part. Who in the world put their hands on those as they were made , those are the people I'm interested in. What woods did they use , what techniques , are all of the guitars they made , actually that resonant. Thats what we need to see. That to me is what makes one instrument more valuable than another , the quality of the craftsmanship.
Hell yea, amazing to see such special pieces. Kinda wanna buy a Martin acoustic...
Whoa, the 42 D45...Boom and the Joan B.
That little blues jam on Joan's guitar was pretty sweet.
I found it cool you actually got to try Leo’s Martin, I remember taking a picture of that one and the plack separately so I could remember where Leo got his start on creating some of the best electrics ever made!
I hope you know you just lived out a dream of mine and you’re insanely lucky. I will never even be able to see these guitars in person let alone touch or play them. Amazing.
I just went there today and loved it! I hope to go back sometime. Love my LX1
I totally understand that his instinct is to play something in the vein of the artist that owned each guitar. I bought a Gretsch Bo Diddley model back in 2011 and it took a long time before I felt right playing anything other than Bo Diddley songs on it. And this wasn't a guitar he iwned or even played! For that matter it isn't even the high end model that is a replica of his original rectangular guitar. Yet, it's like it wasn't my guitar ir that I needed permission to play non Bo Diddley stuff.
The one that stands out for me...is the one that stood out for you. All you did was strum a simple G chord...”OH!” was your reaction. The legends that have written beautiful music is one thing...but...
I have played lots of guitars in my 61 years. And ones that were very expensive well known brands were hard to play...and didn’t sound very good. But they were pretty to look at. I am of the opinion that every instrument has its own “voice”...some sing, and some don’t. Take, for example, any Stradivarius. They all sing...beautifully. You were lucky enough to play one that doesn’t look like much...but... it sings beautifully...
The sound of the D45 comes across through the camera via your expression and the /plays/ "oh man!" /plays some more/ "oh man!"
It’s so fun to watch someone enthusiastic about a thing witness an excellent example of that thing!
Oh to be a fly on the wall there during your visit. I love those guitars.
I play an old great divide that I’ve had since I was a teen, I love the somber tone it’s makes but that 45 Martin was so full bodied it was crazy
Graduated college in May and got my first really high paying jobs week ago and I was so excited because one of the first things I’m buying are two Martin Guitars 😅. I get my first check next week super excited!!
Wow, what a cool experience!
Very cool episode!!
Nice! I'm going to go there in the fall sometime I'm excited
You were so lit up playing some of these guitars...you couldn't restrain your enthusiasm, which was great to see! Of the guitars you played, the most surprising and something I would not have expected is just how amazing the guitar owned by Joan Baez sounded....
Nice to see Sean with you.
“It’s not a classic Martin unless you smash it.” -Kurt Russell, probably.
Upvoted because you played so beautifully. Love the folk finger pick stuff
Grand video wey! Hubieras tocado un corridon.
I'm usually not into bling on guitars, I don't even like pearl/abalone bindings, but that diamond guitar is beautiful. It really is something else.
12:08 now that this guitar has not only been played by Kurt Cobain and Elliott Smith, but also by Samurai Jenny, I guess it value will soon reach eight figures.
Apparently Kurt Cobain and Elliott Smith’s playing didn’t mean all that much to SammyG though…
Man the most expensive guitar that I have ever played was a $3500 Martin acoustic that is owned by a family member and man that Guitar sounded beautiful. The craziest thing about the Martin D-18 that Kurt would get in 1993 a 1959 Martin D-18e which was the electric version of that guitar that he would play at the Nirvana Unplugged concert.
What an unbelievable experience, you are one lucky boy.
That Waylon Jennings' D-28 sounded really amazing, as well as the one that Joan Baez used to play. That D-28 was most definitely my favourite in this video.
I mean I couldn’t agree more and imo the diamond studded thing was just ridiculous since there is so much beauty in the costly tone woods and back n side woods.
joans guitar from 1880 had the sweetest mellow and vibe of them all.
I've been a Martin fan for several decades. Many (most?) of them have an amazing clarity of tone. I'd love to do that Nazareth pilgrimage. Cheers!
I personally have never really cared about provenance who played or it owned it but I do appreciate seeing some of these early pieces as well as some of the weird transitions stages that the guitars have gone through my favorite being that Fender modified martin
D45 sounded the coolest. You can really hear it blast a unique sound.
We just watched you play G, C and D.
2:28 him dropping the guitar is all I keep thinking about 😂
Coolest video from SG I’ve ever seen. So many chills.
It was pretty uncool for me to hear him say that he thought Elliott Smith was a member of The Smiths, who he actually thought was The Cure, but that’s just me :)
Martin makes a phenomenal guitar. I was lucky enough to play one for a little while. Cant remember the model but it was sweet.
I have a question for you Samurai Guitarist…
Having played these beautiful and historic guitars, which of these brought the most songs out of you? If any of them did.
I love it when Sean steps in for a cameo. 😎
Growing up in KY, I was raised with bluegrass and the holy Grail definitely fits that sounds the best in my opinion
One of the earliest pioneers was a Gibson engineer named Lloyd Loar. In 1924 he developed an electric pickup for the viola and other stringed instruments.
geez, guys, www anyone?
The star on is conceptually cool, but doesn’t blow my mind; the 2 millionth clock guitar is SO cool!
That was awesome!
I didn't even know that this was in PA and I live an hour away from it lol
Gonna research some and take a trip!
You played history, can't get cooler than that.
This is one of those Sammy G videos (there are many) that I wish I could like more than once.
A great guitar inspires great artists to create great music ..simple as that really , good job guys
This museum and factory isn’t too far from my house and so I have been a few times and thought it would be cool to play some of the things in there and now at least I get to hear the things in there
Do they have the Kurt Russell model there?
As a guy who lives out by rural Pennsylvania, and a guitar enthusiast, I couldn't recommend the Martin guitar factory tours enough.
What a rad video.
I think the "Magic" is moreso that It started as a GREAT guitar, and someone we care about recognized that.
Martins are by far the best sounding acoustic guitars in my opinion
5:50 how cold you not tell us what the key at the neck joint does? I'm mad
Dunno about diamonds, but even my new D35 is pure gold in sound! No other company is making regular production stringed instruments that are as good as the most legendary antique ones.
How is this video only 12:55 long?
Playing all these and living to tell? Me Hero.
That guitar is so rarefied so plutocraticaly hubristic that I couldn't afford a ticket to watch your video.
Sparkly!
LOVE!
check out elliott smith's music if u get the chance! probably one of the most underrated guitar players ever, wrote melodies and acoustic parts better than almost anyone i can think of! would recommend checking out his self titled album, as well as XO!
0:45 When you mentioned when the original Chris Martin landed in NYC, I at first thought you meant the guy from Coldplay. 😂
This review is so much better than the one I saw with that guy who just went there and thrashed everything with a plectrum and gave you anxiety throw the phone for those guitars. Careless
It's so good to See that the brilliant guitar Samurai don't know everything✌️😊✨
tones are in hands , you can sound like srv only by playing squier
I'm almost just getting in my car right now and driving there now to be able to play all these guitars
That seals it for me. There’s not a single Martin guitar whose sound I like. They all have this hollow boxy resonance ringing around 2-300hz that I just can’t get past.
D2.5 is one of the most great acoustic guitars ever made
The Baroque is a highly ornate and elaborate style of architecture, art and design that flourished in Europe in the 17th and first half of the 18th century.
i heard you can play some of them, some of modern models or normal mortal person can play some special ones?